Fun, feasible and functioning: Students’ experiences of a physical activity intervention

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe students’ experiences of participating in a physical activity (PA) intervention. Methodology: A purposive sampling was used; 14 students (four boys and 10 girls) were interviewed and the collected data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Major findings: One main theme was identified: fun, feasible and functioning. The following two subthemes also emerged: the multi-component intervention fits several, but not all, and manageable measuring can also be motivating. The main theme elucidates that fun was an important factor for joining the study; the students also experienced he empowerment-inspired intervention and the data collection to be fun and feasible. According to the students, the intervention was functioning since they experienced that it increased their PA. Principal conclusions: An empowerment approach that includes forming partnerships with students is a promising avenue for developing PA interventions for schools, regardless of whether the person concerned is a parent, teacher, school nurse or physiotherapist, but one size will never fit all.

Key words::

• Adolescents
• empowerment
• interviews
• school-based intervention

Declaration of interest: This work was supported by the Department of Health Sciences at Luleå University of Technology, and by Arctic Children, an EU funded project.